Stabilizer for motor vehicles



Nov. 2, 1937. E. E. WILLIAMS I STABILIZER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Aug.1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 2772267 5 Wz'ZZmm'a.

Ait'orneys Nov 2, 1937. E. E. WILLIAMS STABILIZER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, i956 Inventor WN ww 27772675 w'zzzmj,

Attorneys Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES STABILIZER'FOR MOTORVEHICLES Elmer E. Williams, Hull, Tex., assignor of thirtythree andone-third per cent to C; A. Pedigo,

Hull, Tex. I

. Application August 1, 1936, Serial No. 93,893

2 Claims. (01. 280,-)

, This invention relates to means for minimizing jarring of the steeringsystem and wheel wobble in motor vehicles, and an object of theinvention is, in general, to improve upon stabilizing devices as nowused on automobiles for this purpose.

The-invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study Qfthe following description taken in connectionwith theaccompanying drawings ,wherein:-'-

Figure-1 is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention. V

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-- -2 ofFigure 1.

Figure;3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on. the line 3-3of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through one end of a castingembodying the features of the present.invention,land taken substantiallyon the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view through said end ofthe casting with the piston in plan. Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailview partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating theconnection between a spindle arm and a link, and taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that 5indicates generally the axle of an automobile while 6 indicates thefront or steering wheels thereof and 1 indicates spindle arms. The rodconnecting the spindle arms 1 is indicated by the reference numeral'8.

In accordance with the present invention there is secured on the rearside of the axle 5 through the medium of U bolts or in any othersuitable manner and as indicated generally at 9 a casting l0 formed toprovide a pair of cylinders ll integral with and extending in reversedirections from an intermediate chamber l2.

Each cylinder H is provided with a by-path 13 connected through themedium of a port 54 with its cylinder ll adjacent one end of thecylinder, and through the medium of a port l5 with the respectiveopposite end of the cylinder, or in other words farthest remote from thechamber l2. Controlling the port i5 is a by-path valve I6 for whichthere is provided a suitable spring tension device I! that serves tonormally and yieldingly hold the valve l6 seated for closing the portl5.

Having a working fit in each cylinder H is a hollow piston l8 that iscompletely open at one end and at its respective opposite end isprovided with an opening IS. The piston I8 is normally urged in onedirection through the medium of a coil spring 20 one end of which isreceived within the cylinder H and is suitably engaged with a disk valve2! provided for normally closing the port IQ of the piston. Suitableguide means 2la is provided for each valve 2| to confine the latter toaxial shifting movement within the piston.

At its respective opposite; end the spring is suitably engaged with anadjusting disk 22 having a working fit within the cylinder H and withwhich is swivelly or otherwise suitably connected as at 23 an adjustingscrew 24 that is threaded through a plug 25 provided in the free end ofthe cylinder as shown in Figure 4. Screw 24 is provided with a suitablelock nut 26 and it will be obvious that through the mediumof the screw24 disk 22 may be shifted axially of the cylinder as found desirable forincreasing or diminishing the tension of thespring-Zil. I ,i

The chamber I2 is laterally extended as at l2a and journaled in theextension I2a of the chamber are vertical shafts 2! provided with arms28 that are pivoted at their respective free ends as at 29 to the endsof pairs of arms 30 pivotally connected with the apertured ends of thepistons l8.

The shafts 27 at one end are provided with threaded sockets forreceiving threaded ends of bolts 3| that have smooth shank portionsjournaled in suitable openings provided in the top wall of the chamberextension I200 as will be clear from a study of Figures 2 and 3.

Each shaft 2'! is provided on its lower end with an arm 32 that ispivotally connected with one end of a link 33 the other end of whichlink is provided, as shown in Figure 6, with a socket 34 that receives aball 35 provided as an integral part of a nut 36. The nut 36 issubstituted for the usual nut that is engaged with the coupling pin 3!used in connecting a spindle arm 1 with the connecting rod 8. (SeeFigure 6.)

The socket 34 is provided with a suitable spring device 38 for yieldablyseating the ball 35 within the socket 34.

Each of the links 33 is longitudinally extensible having as a partthereof a turn buckle assembly indicated generally by the referencenumeral 33a.

For the chamber l2 there is provided a suitable filling opening forwhich is provided a plug 39.

It will be understood that in actual practice liquid to the desiredamount is placed within the casting ID, the chamber I2 serving as areservoir for the liquid or fiuid. It will thus be seen that when thesteering mechanism is operated and the wheels 6 are turned to therequired angle through the steering assembly or apparatus one of thepistons l8 will be caused to move in one direction and the other of thepistons [8 caused to move in a reverse direction. Thus it will be seenthat, as one piston moves toward the free end of its cylinder the otherpiston will move in a reverse direction or towards. the end of itscylinder connected with the chamber |2. Obviously, as, for example, thepiston I8, shown in Figure 4, moves towards the left in Figure 4, valve2| closes and the fluid trapped between the piston I8 and the disk 22will be forced through the by-path l3, valve I6, opening in response tothe pressure of the fluid. The fluid thus passing into the by-path l3flows through the by-path to return to the cylinder [I at the oppositeend of the piston |8 through the ports l4. Obviously, on the returnstroke of-the piston valve 2| will be unseated to permit the fluid toflow through the port l9 to become trapped between the piston l8 and itsdisk 22 for repeating the cycle of operation just described.

From the above it will be seen that with this device the driver of theautomobile may turn the wheels to any desired position without a greatdeal of effort on the part of the driver while at the same time thedevice will insure a proper toe-in of the wheel at both low and highspeed and will serve to provide a substantially absolute safety deviceat all times.

Arms 32 are connected by an extensible rod 4|, having a turnbuckle 44incorporated therein; one end of rod 4| being pivoted to one arm 32 asat 42, and the other end of rod 4| having a lost-motion connection 43with the other arm 32.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is 'for yieldably seating thevalve, a by-path valve associated with the port connecting one end ofthe by-path withits cylinder, a pair of verticalshafts journaled in saidchamber, there being one shaft for each piston, each of said shaftsbeing provided with an arm, and said piston having arms extendingtherefrom and pivoted at one end to the shaft arm.

2. In an automobile stabilizer, the combination with the spindle arms,of a pair of intercommunicating cylinders, pistons having working fitsin said cylinders, vertical shafts journaled intermediate the adjacentends of the cylinders, operating connections between the shafts and thepistons, and operating connections between the shafts and the spindlearms, each of said cylinders being provided with a by-path, portsconnecting each by-path with its cylinder, valve means controlling oneof the said ports'of each by-path, and each piston having a passagetherethrough, a valve controlling said passage, and a spring tensiondevice connected with the last mentioned valve.

ELMER E. WILLIAMS.

